Capitol Hill needs to know about Guam

Guam - With representatives from the White House and Washington officials arriving on Guam this week, you can expect island leaders to not only to discuss the Pagat issue, but also pushing home the message that Guam is "Where America's Day Begins". Texas senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson with the Senate Appropriations Committee, who pushed hard for the votes that carved out some $320 million out of the proposed 2011 defense budget that would have gone to the Marines' relocation plan, criticized spending money on Guam, which she called "a foreign base".

Guam Congressional Delegate Madeleine Bordallo on island for the Liberation Day festivities pledges to secure the funding needed for the buildup as well as war reparations. "That's not a done deal yet, they make their cuts and then we have our bills and then we go into conference and that's when things may change," she said. "I have the war claims out again, it's been passed by the House and each year we take it, it's been passed four times by the House of Representatives and each time numbers are larger."

As for her colleague from the Lone Star State, she says Hutchinson should probably take a visit here. I think when anybody makes a comment like that they're just not knowledgeable," said Bordallo. "And that's why it's so important that I bring many members of Congress out here and they're absolutely astounded when they come out and see the progress that we made out here. Many people are under the impression that it's just military bases and that's it, they don't know we're a tourist destination and we made a lot of progress over the years."

Also on Guam for Liberation Day is Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas Tony Babauta, who likewise thinks Hutchinson was misinformed. "I think clearly her staff needs to do a better job at informing the good senator in exactly where Guam is and how important it is for our nation's defense and our strategic location here in the Asia-Pacific Region," he told KUAM News.

Meanwhile, according to Congresswoman Bordallo, the battle for funding isn't over as they'll dialogue will continue in conference committee.

The trial against Raymond Martinez and Juanita Moser continued again at the District Court. Today, jurors heard cross-examination of Torrance Police Officer Ryan Schmitz by Martinez's defense counsel, Peter Perez. Officer Schmitz was the arresting officer who pulled over Martinez in a traffic stop resulting in the finding of eight pounds of meth. Perez argued the credibility of the government's witness, calling out inconsistencies in his testimonies and reports. Defense also...More >>

The trial against Raymond Martinez and Juanita Moser continued again at the District Court. Today, jurors heard cross-examination of Torrance Police Officer Ryan Schmitz by Martinez's defense counsel, Peter Perez. Officer Schmitz was the arresting officer who pulled over Martinez in a traffic stop resulting in the finding of eight pounds of meth. Perez argued the credibility of the government's witness, calling out inconsistencies in his testimonies and reports. Defense also...More >>

She wants the feds to investigate the Department of Corrections. Public safety oversight chair Senator Telena Nelson has asked US Attorney for Guam and the CNMI Shawn Andersen to send a request to the justice department to conduct an independent review of the recent events at the prison. Nelson wants them to find out if there have been any violations of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act. Some of the things she points out include the assault on detainee Katlyn Scully,...More >>

She wants the feds to investigate the Department of Corrections. Public safety oversight chair Senator Telena Nelson has asked US Attorney for Guam and the CNMI Shawn Andersen to send a request to the justice department to conduct an independent review of the recent events at the prison. Nelson wants them to find out if there have been any violations of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act. Some of the things she points out include the assault on detainee Katlyn Scully,...More >>

He is accused of pointing a gun at another driver on the road, and now faces drug charges. Sean Anthony Aquiningoc is charged drug possession and possession with intent to deliver, illegal possession of a firearm, theft by receiving, assault, and reckless conduct. Police tracked down the suspect's car after receiving a complaint that he allegedly pointed a gun at her along route 16 in Dededo. Along with a 9mm gun and full metal jacket bullets, police found marijuana leaves, and multip...More >>

He is accused of pointing a gun at another driver on the road, and now faces drug charges. Sean Anthony Aquiningoc is charged drug possession and possession with intent to deliver, illegal possession of a firearm, theft by receiving, assault, and reckless conduct. Police tracked down the suspect's car after receiving a complaint that he allegedly pointed a gun at her along route 16 in Dededo. Along with a 9mm gun and full metal jacket bullets, police found marijuana leaves, and multip...More >>

Corrections officers stopped prison contraband from getting into their facility. DepCor leaders say officers found chewing tobacco and pugua at the rear side of the domes while conducting a perimeter check on Sunday. No word yet if anyone is facing charges following the find. Authorities are investigating...More >>

Corrections officers stopped prison contraband from getting into their facility. DepCor leaders say officers found chewing tobacco and pugua at the rear side of the domes while conducting a perimeter check on Sunday. No word yet if anyone is facing charges following the find. Authorities are investigating...More >>

15 players from Guam's men's national soccer team are in San Diego for training camp. Matao Head Coach Karl Dodd says, "We are using this camp to evaluate the players off-island and to implement the new professional standards and playing style to those players."

15 players from Guam's men's national soccer team are in San Diego for training camp. Matao Head Coach Karl Dodd says, "We are using this camp to evaluate the players off-island and to implement the new professional standards and playing style to those players."

It was battle of the regions fire departments... Local and federal fire fighters from Guam and the CNMI spent the weekend at the Paseo Beach Park for this year's fire muster competition. They competed in a variety of physical contests that tested their strength, endurance and teamwork. Taking first place on day one was the Navy Federal Fire Department, and walking away with the overall win on Sunday, the CNMI Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services. Great job to all who comp...More >>

It was battle of the regions fire departments... Local and federal fire fighters from Guam and the CNMI spent the weekend at the Paseo Beach Park for this year's fire muster competition. They competed in a variety of physical contests that tested their strength, endurance and teamwork. Taking first place on day one was the Navy Federal Fire Department, and walking away with the overall win on Sunday, the CNMI Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services. Great job to all who comp...More >>

A mother admits to police she had just smoked the drug, ICE, when she tried to hurt herself and her five year old. Eileen Camille Mangarero is charged with assault on a police officer, family violence, and child abuse. Police responded to a disturbance along route 15 in Mangilao when they saw a woman holding a child in the middle of the road. A man known to her tried to help and calm her down. Authorities were able to get both the child and the woman off the road. But, it's at that po...More >>

A mother admits to police she had just smoked the drug, ICE, when she tried to hurt herself and her five year old. Eileen Camille Mangarero is charged with assault on a police officer, family violence, and child abuse. Police responded to a disturbance along route 15 in Mangilao when they saw a woman holding a child in the middle of the road. A man known to her tried to help and calm her down. Authorities were able to get both the child and the woman off the road. But, it's at that po...More >>

A 51 year old man is under arrest accused of sexually molesting an 11 year old girl known to him. Neron "Jack" Paulus is charged with 2 counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct. Police responded to the complaint at an apartment complex in Agat on Saturday. Court documents state, the alleged abuse included oral sex and vaginal penetration. It was only after the victim began crying even louder that the suspect got off of her and left the bedroom. The suspect was also on ...More >>

A 51 year old man is under arrest accused of sexually molesting an 11 year old girl known to him. Neron "Jack" Paulus is charged with 2 counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct. Police responded to the complaint at an apartment complex in Agat on Saturday. Court documents state, the alleged abuse included oral sex and vaginal penetration. It was only after the victim began crying even louder that the suspect got off of her and left the bedroom. The suspect was also on ...More >>

A brief scare at the Hawaiian Rock compound after a suspicious package was found. It happened midday Saturday at the Mangilao facility forcing workers to temporarily evacuate. Guam Homeland officials say the item was found on the shore side of the compound. HazMat teams responded along with the Guam National Guard's 94th Civil Support Team. Authorities are now testing the contents of the package. Meantime, Hawaiian Rock employees have since been allowed to return to work.More >>

A brief scare at the Hawaiian Rock compound after a suspicious package was found. It happened midday Saturday at the Mangilao facility forcing workers to temporarily evacuate. Guam Homeland officials say the item was found on the shore side of the compound. HazMat teams responded along with the Guam National Guard's 94th Civil Support Team. Authorities are now testing the contents of the package. Meantime, Hawaiian Rock employees have since been allowed to return to work.More >>

GFD leadership confirming a suspect got into a storage container at the Piti Fire Station early Saturday. Officials say nothing of value was inside and it didn't appear that anything had been taken. But, anyone with information is asked to call police. Just last week, police also investigated an incident that ended with a busted window at the Astumbo Fire Station. However, authorities say the building was not targeted and the damage was a result of a domestic dispute that happened in ...More >>

GFD leadership confirming a suspect got into a storage container at the Piti Fire Station early Saturday. Officials say nothing of value was inside and it didn't appear that anything had been taken. But, anyone with information is asked to call police. Just last week, police also investigated an incident that ended with a busted window at the Astumbo Fire Station. However, authorities say the building was not targeted and the damage was a result of a domestic dispute that happened in ...More >>